Normalized Text

[Page 1]For William Maxwell Esq.r

It is not easy to advise properly for persons at a great distance when we can neither have
every recent information nor can be certain that the circumstances we are informed of shall
continue to be the same when our advice arrives at the patient in such a situation we can give only some
general opinions which are to be followed or rejected as the judgement of a physician upon the spot
[forms?] a [view?] of the circumstances the present shall direct. I am told that the young gentleman is
is troubled with a cough & some pain of his side, the consequences of y{illeg} symptoms were to be obviated by
by blood lettingblistering & other [antiphlogistic?] remedy & I hope such have been employed
with success. But if the success has not been so great as we wish & when this arrives the ailment
shall still continue I shall then think the blood letting will come to late, for tho it
may perhaps still be useful & even necessary in alleviating great pain or difficulty of breathingI think it cannot now be pushed with any freedom as it might have been before for
obviating the first Inflammationblistering the [p.{illeg} p.{illeg}?] can hardly be improper at any period of the
disease & if the ailments still continue I shall think an Issue very necessary. If it is not done
already I should advise an Issue to be made immediately by a Seton in the Side or a pea
in the arm or such as shall be found most convenient & such Issue to be continued in one place or other
for a year or more. It will be proper in every circumstance to obviate costiveness & keep the
Belly regular besides I believe that any degree of purging will be very hurtfull & if a medicine is necessary
to remove costiveness it should be of the gentlest & mildest kind. Not only in case Mr
Maxwells ailments continue violent but even tho much [abatement?] if the [cont.?] in any degree I shall

[Page 2] think a particular attention in his diet very necessary. I would advise him to lay
aside every kind of animal food except if maybe a little weak broth or hartshorn
jelly. on the other hand. Roots greens & other such garden products are not the most
proper but milk with the farinacea or grain of all kinds will best support his
strength & at the same time be a cool enough diet for obviating Inflammation He may
also take every kind of fruit, fresh, preserved, or dried, as Orange, Lemon, apple,
currant or other such Jelly, Raisins, currants, figs & any of these may be joined
to his milk & grain in the manner he likes best. If Mr Maxwell {illeg}continues with any reserve of strength there is nothing more necessary for him than
gentle but continued exercise on horseback or in a carriage taken more or less
as his strength or the state of the weather properly allows, the best manner will
be by entering upon a Journey of some length & as it is suitable for the plan of his
education I would advise him to leave Gottingen immedaitely & proceed to
either Rheims or Dijon but I am disposed to prefer the first in point of Climate
if other circumstances are suitable. To either he should travel by such any
Journey as the state of his strength & the securing proper accommodation shall
direct. I have no doubt but that by the time this letter arrives the season will
be sufficiently advanced to allow of the Journey proposed & the climate either
of Champagne or Burgundy will be very safe for Mr Maxwell during the
months of April & May but if his ailment continues & any considerable {illeg} in June
it will be proper for him to come over to Britain & even to Scotland
for two or 3 months after. I have only to add that wherever Mr Maxwell
is it will be proper for him to avoid bodily exercise even his walking should
be very moderate & walking fast, running, dancing, or fencing will do
him a great deal of harm ------

Edinburgh
17 March
1773.

William Cullen M.D. and
Professor of the practice of Physick in the
university of Edinburgh ------

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]For William Maxwell Esq.r

It is not easy to advise properly for persons at a gt distance wn we can neither have
every recent information nor can be certn that ye circumstances we are informed of shall
cont. to be ye same wn our advice arrives at ye pat.t in such a situatn we can give only some
genl opinions whch are to be followed or rejected as ye judgemt of a physic.n upon ye spot
[fm?] a [view?] of ye circumstances ye prest shall direct. I am told that ye young gentleman is
is troubled wth a cough & some pn of his side, ye consequences of y{illeg} sympts were to be obviated by
by blood lettngblistg & other antiphyst. remed. & I hope such have been employed
wth success. Bt if ye success has not been so g.t as we wish & wn ys arrives ye ailm.t
shall still cont. I shall then think ye blood letting will come to late, for tho it
may perhaps still be useful & evn necessary in alleviat.g gt pn or difficulty of breath.gI think it cannot now be pushed wth any freedom as it might have been before for
obviat.g the first Inflamm.nblistg ye [p.{illeg} p.{illeg}?] can hardly be improper at any period of ye
disease & if ye ailm.s still cont. I shall think an Issue very necessary. If it is not done
already I should advise an Issue to be made immediaty by a Seton in ye Side or a pea
in ye arm or such as shall be found most conv.t & such Issue to be cont.d in one place or other
for a year or more. It will be proper in every circumstance to obviate costiveness & keep ye
B regr bs I believe yt any degree of purg.g will be very hurtfull & if a med. is necessary
to remove costiveness it should be of ye gentlest & mildest kind. Not only in case Mr
Maxwells ailm.ts cont. viol.t b.t even tho much [abat.?] if ye [cont.?] in any degree I shall

[Page 2] think a partic.r attent.n in his diet very necessary. I would advise him to lay
aside every kind of animal food except if maybe a little weak broth or hartshorn
jelly. on ye oth.r hand. Roots greens & other such garden product.s are not ye most
proper b.t milk wth ye farinacea or grain of all kinds will best support his
strength & at ye same time be a cool enough diet for obviat. Inflamm.n He may
also take every kind of fruit, fresh, preserved, or dried, as Orange, Lemon, apple,
currant or other such Jelly, Raisins, currants, figs & any of yse may be joined
to his milk & grain in ye manner he likes best. If Mr Maxwell {illeg}cont. wth any reserve of strength there is nothing more necessary for him yn
gentle but cont.d exercise on horseback or in a carriage taken more or less
as his strength or ye state of ye wathr properly allows, ye best manner will
be by entering upon a Journey of some length & as it is suitable for ye plan of his
education I would advise him to leave Gottingen immedaitely & proceed to
eithr. Rheims or Dijon bt I am disposed to prefer ye first in point of Climate
if other circumstances are suitable. To either he should travel by such any
Journey as ye state of his strength & ye securing proper accomodatn shall
direct. I have no doubt bt that by ye time ys letter arrives ye season will
be sufficiently advanced to allow of ye Journey proposed & ye climate eithr
of Champagne or Burgundy will be very safe for Mr Maxwell durg ye
months of April & May bt if his ailmt cont. & any consid.ble {illeg} in June
it will be proper for him to come over to Britain & even to Scotland
for two or 3 months after. I have only to add that wherever Mr Maxwell
is it will be proper for him to avoid bodily exercise even his walking should
be very moderate & walking fast, running, dancing, or fencing will do
him a gt deal of harm ------

Edinr
17 March
1773.

W.m Cullen M.D. and
Professr of ye practice of Physick in ye
university of Edinburgh ------

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